High school fishing championship returns

Kerr Lake is hosting the N.C. High School Fishing Championship for the second consecutive year.

The tournament will be held Sundaywith boaters launching out of Nutbush Park shortly after 6 a.m.

High school teams from around the state are vying to qualify for a regional tournament in Chattanooga, Tenn. The top two teams in Sunday's The Bass Federation and FLW event move on to the Tennessee tourney.

The Kerr Lake field is set at 28, up 10 boats from the 2013 event that was claimed by an East Wake High School duo.

Mark Gintert, The Bass Federation’s national youth director, said high school fishing continues to rapidly grow.

Gintert cited a recent 250-boat tournament in Texas and 100-boat event in Tennessee.

“It’s making in progress in North Carolina,” said Gintert.

The Bass Federation and FLW selected Kerr Lake through a bidding process; Gintert lauded the Nutbush facilities and credited Nancy Wilson, Vance County’s tourism director, for her work with the tournament and promotion of Kerr Lake over the past two years.

Gintert says Nutbush is on par with any of the facilities he visits.

“It’s probably one of the top-10 places in the country,” said Gintert. “I always like coming to this place.”